If we don't incarcerate young people in conflict with the law, what do we do with them? The answer is simple: We care for and invest in our young people; resource families and communities to safely hold youth accountable; invest in each young person's success, and; address the root causes of youth crime in the communities where the youth live, all in the context of their homes and neighborhoods.

Today, he is asking for "official public redemption." His success and celebrity will likely earn him that. But success comes in many packages. We hope Mark Wahlberg gets the pardon he seeks. But let's not stop there. Let's give all our kids a second chance.

Even for adult offenders like 18-year-old Anthony Sparks, the felony murder rule should be constrained, especially in cases where the death of an accomplice was the result of an unpredictable, intervening event.

If you sit in juvenile delinquency court long enough, you notice a few things. Most of the kids are black or brown. Almost all of the families are poor. And a huge percentage of the children have problems in school - learning difficulties, mental health needs, behavioral issues, or all three.

A 12-year-old girl was arrested for selling crack. Where's the outrage? Should her arrest become par for the course, we are all in trouble. There are not enough jails to house a generation of kids who turn to a life of crime before they reach puberty.